Show case



(N'o Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

v SHOW ASE. v N0. 354,893. Patented D60. 28, 1886.-

2. t nv e h S w e e h. S 3 X 0 nr. .B l

(No Model.)

SHDW CASE.

Patented Dec. 28, 1886.

\\\\k\\-S\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\Y n mins. Phonvmhomphen wmangm. D. c'

(No Model.) '3 sheetssheet 3.

J. E. FOX.

SHOW GASE- NO. 354,893. Patented Deo. 28, 1886.

. 'D {nn r1 .v 1 1r1 Mjun fl rp a J pzf E: @il E1-; E1 @it s Q 3 J 3%SX' @il @il 3:1 @1 1 @i U71-: H a

UNITEDk STATES @PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. FOX, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF TO DAVID C.LOEWENSTINE, OF SAME PLACE.

SHOW-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 354,893, dated December28, 1886.

Application tiled August 3, 1885.`

To all whom may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES E. FOX, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin, in the State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inShowCases, of which the following specification is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying draw-ings, inwhich- Fignre 1 is a side view of the case closed, and Fig. 2 is a sideview of the case with cover elevated. Fig. 3 is a side view of a portionof the case, showing the relative positions of the parts of thecover-hinge when the cover is [5` partially elevated. Figs. 4 and 5 areenlarged details of the form of peg used to supporthats, caps, andsimilar goods in the case. Figs. 6 and 7 are enlargeddetailsillustrating the con- .struction of the tilting mechanismof'thegoods- 20 supporting pegs. Fig. 8 is a vertical section, cuttingfrom front to rear, of the case closed. Fig. 9 is a similar view showingthe case opened and the displayframe elevated. Fig. 10 is a sectionalView, looking from the front, z 5 of a portion of one side of the case,taken in a plane indicated by the line 1 1, Fig. 8. Fig. l1 is ahorizontal section ofthe upper displayframe in a plane lindicated by theline 2 2, Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a side view of a portion 3o of the upperdisplay-frame. Fig. 13 is a horizontal section of one side of the middledisplayframe in a plane indicated by the line3 3, Fig. 14. Fig. 14 is aside view ofthe lower part of the middle display-frame. Fig. 15 is ahorizontal section of one side of the lower display-frame in a planeindicated bythe line 4 4, Fig. 16. Fig. 16 is aside view ofthe lowerpart oi' the lower display-frame. Fig. 17 is an enlarged detail viewillustrating the con- 4o struction of the mechanism for supporting thedisplay-frames, the View being a vertical section of the upper corner ofthe rear end of the middle frame lying down, and through one of thesupporting-rails of `the frame. Fig. 18 is an enlarged view of vasection of the case,illus trating the relative positions and thearrangement of the tracks upon which the displayframes run. Fig. 19 isan enlarged cross-sectional view of one of the display-frames withSerial No. 173.315. (No model.)

the goods-supporting pegs turned up, and 5c Fig. 20 is a similar viewwith the pegs turned down. Fig. 2l is a front View of a portion of oneof the frames with the pegs turned up, as shown in Fig. 19.

This invention relates to show-cases for displaying articles ofmerchandise in stores, Ste., more especially hats, caps, fors, andsimilar goods, having a series of goods-supporting frames, in which thegoods are so held that when the frames are folded down in compact 6oform within the case the goods will not fall out of the frames, but atthe same time be easily accessible when the frames are turnedupward,ashereinaftershown,and then specically deiin'ed by the claims.

In the drawings, A is the base of the case, Az A3 the sides, A4 theback, A5 the front, and As the top, of the same. The base, sides, andback are all secured to each other, while the front and top are in onepiece, or formed solidly together', and adapted to lie loosely upon thefront and top of the structure, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. The top andfront A5 AG are firmly held at right angles to each other by suitablemetal straps and braces attheir curved end, and connections will beformed with glass panels, through which the interior of the case may beobserved. The sides and the back of the oase may also be formed withglass panels, if preferred.

Upon each end of the rear part of the top A6 a metal bracket, B', issecured, passing down outside of the sides A2 A3 of the case, andpivoted at a in a slot, a2, in one end of a bar, B'l. The other end ofthe bar B'l is piv- 85 oted upon ,the rear edge of the side, as A3, ashort distance down from the top. .The bracket B is curved forward atB3, and when the cover is folded down, as shown inFg. 1, this curvedportion rests behind and partially beneath an 9o anti-friction groovcdroller, b, on the upper part of the side of the case. Only one set ofthese brackets and bars is shown; but each side of the case will ofcourse be supplied with its own set. -By this arrangement of thebrackets and slotted bars, when the front and top of the case are raisedup by the handle A7, the top Ai willslide back over the upper edge ofhandle A7 is more readily reached for again,

shutting the case. When the front and top are thus raised, the 4bars B2are brought into an inclined position downward and backward,substantially as shown in Fig. 2. This position of the bars, brackets,and top of the case is such that the bars, under the weight of the frontand top, canse the top to hug closely to the back of the case, and alsoact as braces to prevent the front and top from tipping forward, theybeing thereby held securely in their raised position. At the saine timea gentle pull forward and downward on the handle A" readily lowers thefront and top again to their closed position. A variation of theinclination of the bars B2 varies the stability of the support of thefront and top when thus raised. If the inclination of the bars B'z islessenedthat is, if they are arranged in a position nearerhorizontalmthe front and top areheld up with greater firmness. If theinclination is increasedthat is, if they are brought nearer to avertical position-the support of the front and top is less firm. Thus Ican adapt the bars BL to different weights of the front and top, andmake theirsupport as firm, and as firm only, as desired. l

When first raised, as in Fig. 3, the tendency is for the rear edge ofthe top A to rest upon the upper rear corner of the back A4 until theangle of elevation is sufficient to overcome the friction, when thecover and front would slip back suddenly until stopped by the pivot astriking thebottom or inner end of the slot a2. To avoid this suddenslipping back, I form the curved portions B3 upon the brackets, andarrange the anti-friction grooved rollers b on the sides A2 A3, so thatjust as soon as the front and top A5 AG begin to rise the curvedportions B3, running under the rollers b, begin to crowd the cover backas soon as it begins to rise, and

thereby prevent any jumping77 orjarr-ing of the movement. Thesefriction-rollers b also serve to h`old the front A5 back against thefront edges of the sides A2 A3, as otherwise the front and cover wouldbe free to work forward as far as the slots a2 wouldpermit. The groovedrollers b, holding against the forward edges of the brackets B', serveto hold the front and top A5 A6 from any lateral swerving, so that thereis no danger of the bracing, when used on the ends of the top and front,striking or rubbing the corners of the sides A2 A3; also, the forwardswells of the portions B3 under the rollers b, when the front and topare closed down, serve to prevent a direct vertical rising move- 'mentof the top A6 ont of a perfectly-closed position. Thus the rollers bperform an important part in the operation of my improved hingemechanism. This hinge thus acts as a binder to hold the cover inposition after it drops down in closing. The hinge may be adjusted todrop the front and topdown any distance desired when raised.

Upon each of the inner surfaces of the sides Az A3, near their tops, area number of parallel tracks, c c2 c3 c", the tracks o c2 being in lineone above the other, the tracks c lying close to the sides A2 A3, andthe tracks c3 at a point midway in a perpendicular line between thetracks c2 c, as shown in Fig. 18.

C' C2 C3 are three oblong open goodssupporting frames, each adapted tooccupy, preferably, about onethird of the interior of the case, as shownin Figs. 8, 9, and l0, in Figs. 8 and 10 said frames being representedas lying in a horizontal position, one above another. In this positionthe frames are entirely within the case, and the front and top of thesaid case, when let down, then completely shut the frames in the case.It more or fewer than three frames are employed, each occupies itsproper proportion ot' the space in the case.

d is a flat bar, pivoted by one end to the upper frame, C', and providedwith a grooved roller, d2, adapted to run upon the track ci, while asimilar bar, d3, is pivoted by one end at d* to the same frame, C', andprovided with agrooved roller, d5, running upon the track c', as clearlyshown in Fig. 12. The central frame, C2, is provided with an arm, c,similar to the arm d', and pivoted by one end to the frame C, and havinga roller, e, running upon the track c3, while another arm, e3, connectedto the arm e by a bar, e, is also provided with a roller, e5, runningupon the saine track c3, 'as clearly shown in Fig. 14. The lower frame,C3, is provided with a fixed arm, g', having a roller, g2, running uponthe track c, as clearly shown in Fig. 16.

Each end of each of the frames C C2 Cl will be provided with a set `ofthe rollers to run upon the tracks; but only one set is shown upon eachframe in the drawings. i

Then the frames C C2 C3 are all folded down, as shown in Fig. 8, thecentral frame, C, rests upon the lower frame, C, and the upper frame,C', rests upon the central frame. Then when the front and top A5 A6 areraised up, as shown in Fig. 2, the upper frame, C', may be drawn out andlifted up, as in Fig. 9, (the rollers d di supporting the lower end,)and then run back against the back A. This position of the frame Cbrings the arm d into a backwardly and upwardly slanting position, sothat a pin, h,'upon the frame C will rest upon a pin, h2, on the arm di,and thereby support the frame in an upright position, but free to be runforward upon the tracks c c" to dis-V play the goods, and run back tomake room for the other frames. Then lthe central frame,

IOO

IOS

case, as show-n in the same figure.

upon the connecting-bars e* of the said frame G2, when the latter iselevated, to hold it upright, as shown in Figs. 19, 20, and 2l, whilethe catches 13 upon the lower frame, C3, are adapted to catch upon smallstops k, attached to the front edges of the sides A2 A3 for thatpurpose, as shown ,in Fig. 9. The action of the hooks on the frame C3 isthe same as that of the hooks z' ou the frame C2. By arranging the catcht' upon the central frame to catch upon the cross-bar .eN1 the frame isleft free to be drawn forward to the front of the case to display thegoods, or moved back against the frame C to make room for the lowerframe to be elevated. By this means, when the frames C2 C3 are elevated,the catches 'i t will hold them elevated. Vhen all the frames are thusraised and sustained in a vertical position,they stand one in front ofanother, and substantially in the same plane, as shown in Fig. 9.- Theyalso stand partly above the sides of the By the construction hereinrepresented and described about two-thirds of the height of theframesare thus brought above the sides of the case when they are raisedto' a vertical position. Thus they are brought up to a convenient heightfor examination ot' the goods held by the frames, and for easilyreaching the same, although the case itself may be comparatively low. Atthe same time the front A5 of the case is held above and out of the wayof the frames, when both the case-front and the frames are raised; Thetop A6 of the case then stands in avertical position behind the frames.

m m are small levers pivoted by their ceuters to the lower sides orbottoms of the frames U2 C3 when'elevated, and adapted,wheu pulled byone end, to throw the lower ends ot' the catches z' outward anddisconnect the upper ends of the catches from the arms e4 and stops kwhen the frames C'z or C3 are to be lowered down.

When used for the display of ribbons and similar goods in rolls orcompact form, the

frames G C2 C3 will be merely provided with rods or frames forsupporting the bolts of ribbons, 85o., and when used for some otherkinds of goods mere shelves or hooks will be sufficient; but when usedfor the display of hats and caps and some kinds of furs,and boots andshoes, but more especially hats and caps, l

' arrange in each of the frames C C2 C3 a series of parallel rods, D,pivoted by their ends in the ends of the frames C C2 G3, so that theycan be revolved or oscillated, and have pegs u u thereon. In the centerof each frame CC2 C3 are posts 0*, through which the rods D run, andeach pair of the posts in each frame are secured together' at'their topsby metal frames E" (See Figs. 19,20, and 21.) In each ofthe posts 0*,opposite the points where the rods D pass through them, are slots, (seeFigs. 6 and 7,) out through which small arms n', attached to the rods D,run, and each set of the arms n of each perpendicular row of rodsD areconnected together at their inner ends by rods n2, as shown, so that allthe rods of each perpendicular row may be oscillated at once by movingits connecting-rod n2 up or down. of the posts C* of each frame areconnected together at intervals by cross-pieces G, and held loosely uponthese cross-pieces by straps or other bearings are upright rods H,connected to the rods n by a strap, n3, playing in Vmortises or holes inthe said rods, so as to allow a lateral movement of the rods on thestrap, so that by moving the rod H up or down each of the twoperpendicular rows of the rods D may be turned over toward each other,as shown in Fig. 20.

Each of the frames E' is formed into a handle, E2, by which each of theframes C C2 C3 may be raised and lowered, and in each of these handlesis pivoted a small lever, F', connected at its inner end by a small rod,F2, to one of the rods H, so that by raising and lowering the levers Flthe rods H may also be raised and lowered, and the pegs u u on the rodsD turned into a vertical or a horizontal position. Above the levers F ineach of the handles E2 is pivoted another lever, F3, tothe inner end ofwhich acord or wire, t, is attached e and runs down to two bell-cranks,i2 t3, (shown in dotted lines inlFig. 21,) and from thence in oppositedirections to the small levers m,whioh operate the catches. By pullingdown upon the levers Fa it will be seen the catches will be disconnectedand leave the frames G2 C3 IOO IIO

secured thereto by rivets, screws, or similar means, or, as shown in thedrawings, by punching a portion of the metal into the wood. I prefer thelatter method, as being cheaper, more simple, and fully as secure asanygother means. In the upper ends of the metal plates a portion is cutout on three sides, and the cutout portion bent forward, forming alip,u, which catches behind the sweat-lining of the hat when the framesare lowered, to prevent the hats slipping from the pegs when the framesare accidentally jarred. Spring-catches w will-be attached to the framesC C3 to catch the levers F when they are thrown down,'as shown in Fig.19, to hold the levers downward and prevent the accidental displacementor swinging down of the supporting pegs u when the frames G C2 C3 arelowered. These spring-catches will be so the levers when the pegs areelevated. Each ofthe levers F has a lug, c', upon its upper side, thepart of the lug toward the handle E2 being on a curve of which the pivotof the lever is the center, and the remainder of the lug hollowed out,as shown. Each of the levers F3 has a downwardly-projectinglug, c",which nearly touches the lug e when the levers F are thrown up forlowering the pegs a', as shown in Fig. 20. The levers F are thus alwaysfree to be moved up and down; but when the levers F are raised up, as inFig. 2 0, to throw the pegs u downward,l the lugs c will come beneathand in front of the lugs c" and prevent the levers F3 from beingoperated. Vhen the pegs a are all turned up and secured in that positionby locking the levers F/ with the catches x, as shown in Fig. 19, thelugs v2 are in position to move down in front ot' t-he lugs lv', thusallowing the levers F3 to be operated for unlocking the frames C2 G3, sothat they can be lowered into a horizontal position. By this means theframes C2 or C3 cannot be turned down until the pegs u are raised upwardto secure the hats, te. were turned down when the pegs are turnedhorizontally, the hats would all fall out; but to prevent any suchmishap I provide the locking'lugs c c.

With the construction above described there are two parallel sets ofoppositely-placed rods, D D, in each frame, the pegs 'u' u on one setturning inward toward those on the other set of rods simultaneously.Each articlesuch as a hat-rests over two-of the opposite pegs on theirrespective rods when the frame is raised to a vertical ,position fordisplay, and hangs -by the upper peg of the two when the frame islowered to a horizontal position, the pegs being then horizontal. So,when the frame is raised to a vertical position, the pegs are also in avertical position, as shown in Fig'. 19, thereby preventing the hatsbeing shaken or thrown `from the rods on which they rest, especiallywhen the frames are moved backward or forward, both pegs being thennecessary to keep the hat in place. Then, when it is desired to take oneor more hats from the rods for examination or sale, the rods are turnedby the means above described, so as to bring the pegs into a horizontalposition, as shown in Fig. 20. In that position of t-he pegs the hatsmay be taken from the rods as readily as from a shelf, and as readilyreplaced thereon.

Having 'described my invention and set forth its merit-s, what I claimis!- 1. A show-ease having goods-supporting frames C' C? C3 containedtherein, and provided with a front, A5, and top A, formed in fixedrelation to each other, the top being hinged at the rear of the case tothe same, the said front and top being adapted to be raised and heldwith the top in a vertical position and the front in a horizontalposition at some distance above the case, whereby the said frames may beraised to and held in a verti- If the frames lto each other, andprovided with brackets B',

adapting the top when raised to slide back and drop down behind the backA, substantially as described.

3. A show-case having a bottom, back, and sides in fixed relation' toeach other, and provided with slotted pivoted bars B, and antifrictiongrooved rollers b, in combination with the front and top in fixedrelation to each other, and provided with brackets B', having curvedportions B3, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

4. The combination, in a showcase, of a case bottom, sides, and back, AA2 A A, tracks c cIl c3 c, and `goods supporting frames C C2 C3,provided with rollers adapted to run upon the said tracks, arranged andoperating substantially as herein shown and described.

5. In ashow-case, a series of goods-su pporting frames or holderscontained within the case in a horizontal position one above another,

` and adapted to be raised to and independently sustained in averticalposition one in front of another andsubstantially on the same planewithout removal from the case, pose herein specified.

6. In a show-case, a series of goodssnpporting frames or holderscontained within the case in a horizontal position' one above another,and adapted to be raised to and sustained in a vertical position one infront of another on substantially the same plane, each frame beingpartially above the sides of the case, in combination with a caso havinga connected front and top adapted to be raised and held away from thesaid frames, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

for the purt ICO 7. In a show-case, a goods-supporting frame adapted tobe placed and held in both a horizontal and a vertical position andprovided with two sets of oppositely-located rods, D D, the respectivesets of rods having pegs u u', adapted to be turned inwardsimultaneously toward each other and upward parallel with eachother,substantially as herein specified, whereby each article is adapted to beheld by two opposite pegs on opposite rods of the frame,the pegs beingadapted to be thus turned inward toward each other to permit the fullremoval of the article, substantially as herein set forth.

8. The combination, in a show-case, of a frame having pivoted rods D andpegs u', the

connecting-arms n, rods n. handle E, lever.

a. rd, and held in' platee thereon by a, por- In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set tion of the metal cut in and bent from the my hand inthe presence of two subscribing plate into the rod, and having at theother' Witnesses.

end a. lip, u2, cut in and bent outward from JAMES E. FOX. 5 the plate,in combination with the arms n and Witnesses:

n", straps n3, and rod H, substantially as ALFRED D. WILLISTON,

herein specified. FRED J. SQUIBB.

